Construction of the Nyabarongo II Hydropower Project has reached 75 per cent, with the Rwanda Energy Group maintaining that the facility will be completed by the end of 2027.
The latest figure represents progress from the 73.1 per cent recorded by REG earlier in August. Construction teams are operating day and night shifts to keep the project within its revised schedule.
PowerChina-Sinohydro is constructing the facility, while the Energy Development Corporation Limited, a subsidiary of REG, is supervising its implementation.
Once operational, the plant will generate 43.5 megawatts of electricity and become Rwanda’s first hydropower station built around a large storage dam.
REG expects the additional electricity to strengthen national generation capacity and improve the availability of reliable power for households, industries and investors.
The $214 million project is financed through a concessional loan from the Export-Import Bank of China.
Its principal components include the power plant, a substation and a 110-kilovolt transmission line extending approximately 19 kilometres to the Rulindo substation.
The dam will create a reservoir extending across Kamonyi, Muhanga, Gakenke, Nyabihu and Ngororero districts.
Beyond generating electricity, the reservoir is expected to support water transport between Northern Province and Kigali and create opportunities for tourism and other socioeconomic activities.
The multipurpose dam is also designed to regulate flooding downstream and support irrigation. A subsequent phase could use the regulated water flow to make additional agricultural land available for cultivation.
The original engineering design provides for three generating units, each producing 14.5 megawatts.
REG said work is being accelerated to meet the December 2027 deadline despite earlier challenges affecting the transportation of equipment and construction materials.
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